Osprey Aoede Briefpack and Aoede Crossbody Bag Review

Founded in 1974, Osprey has been on the carry scene for almost half a century – a long time to develop and hone impressive carry expertise. And while the brand is commonly associated with outdoor gear, it has created increasingly solid urban offerings over the years too. One of the most recent additions to its urban lineup is the Osprey Aoede series. These bags have been designed with everyday and commuting use in mind, pairing understated minimalist styling with practical organization to keep gear well organized on the go. The series includes four pieces (two packs, a messenger, and a crossbody). In this review, we’re specifically checking out the Osprey Aoede Briefpack and Osprey Aoede Crossbody Bag.

Who It Suits

The Osprey Aoede Briefpack will suit users looking for a multifunctional bag that can move smoothly from work settings to varied day-to-day use or short trips. The understated aesthetics look right at home in a range of urban environments and the versatile carry options and well-considered organization make this a great option for commuting, travel, and EDC use alike.

The Aoede Crossbody Bag will appeal to those who want a small, lightweight bag for EDC or travel essentials, with practical organization and urban-friendly aesthetics. If you want a versatile option for storing essentials during a night out on the town, walking the dog, sightseeing on your travels, or commuting with minimalist loads, this small but capable carry option offers a lot of flexibility.

Who It Doesn’t

The Osprey Aoede Briefpack is not designed for remote outdoor environments, so if you’re seeking a hybrid pack you can take from the city streets to the mountain trails, you’re better off finding another option. The aesthetics and material are also very discreet, urban, and low-key, so if you’re looking for visual flair that grabs attention or you enjoy a more heritage feel to your gear, you’ll likely find more suitable options elsewhere.

The Aoede Crossbody Bag is compact and not designed to haul very large or bulky items like larger cameras, large tech items, or chunky water bottles. While you may be able to fit small camera setups in the bag, you won’t be able to fit much else, so photographers who carry a lot of accessories will be better served with a dedicated camera bag.

Design

Looks

The Aoede series has been designed with minimalist aesthetics in mind. The sleek silhouettes are versatile enough for everyday use, work carry, and travel needs in urban settings. Both bags come in two color options including Black and Concrete Tan.

These bags aren’t going for a head-turning aesthetic punch but rather understated flexibility. Clean and discreet, they’ll move easily between a variety of work and weekend environments and not draw attention in travel settings.

Construction

Both bags are very well made. I haven’t experienced any issues with stitching, materials, or hardware. The bags are made in Vietnam and backed by Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee and from use, I think they will hold up very well in urban environments for many years to come.

Materials and Hardware

Both bags are sustainably made with bluesign® approved, 100% recycled 840D ballistic polyester with a PFAS-free DWR treatment. The material feels durable and more than capable of holding up to the rigors of daily use year after year. Inside you’ll find a bluesign® approved 200D mixed mélange lining. While not super bright, it does aid in increasing the visibility of the contents and offers some visual interest while remaining subtle for professional settings. The YKK reverse racquet coil zippers work smoothly and have cylindrical zipper pulls. The zipper pulls have texture on them with discreet raised branding, making them easy to grip and use.

Performance

Space & Access

The Aoede Briefpack is essentially split into three compartments including the main compartment, a front organizational panel, and a rear external-access laptop compartment. The main compartment provides panel-loading access, the front admin compartment offers J-zip access, and the rear laptop compartment zips open all the way along the top and down one side. This thoughtful access makes it very easy to store or retrieve items in each of the compartments.

The Aoede Crossbody Bag has one main compartment that can open wide for easy access, along with additional front and rear pockets. This is a small 2L bag that’s meant for essentials so don’t expect to carry loads in it. However, you’ll have plenty of space for the likes of a wallet, phone, passport, snacks, a packable jacket or other similarly compact items. I was pleased to discover it holds a small flask, which was great for staying hydrated while walking the dog. However, depending on the shape of the items you store inside, you might not be able to fit much else inside. It seems like an obvious statement but you’ll fit a lot more inside if you’re packing smaller and flatter items than bigger, bulkier ones.

Pockets and Organizing

I think the Aoede Briefpack does a great job of providing practical, useful organization while still retaining an uncluttered feel. There’s a quick-access, scratch-free zippered exterior pocket on the front of the pack. This is perfect for a wallet, phone, or other small essentials. The front admin compartment provides three slip pockets, one zippered pocket, and a key clip. You can also easily fit A4 documents in the compartment itself. There’s no internal organization in the main compartment, making this a flexible space for bulkier items or using packing cubes or pouches. The padded rear compartment has more than enough space for a 15″ laptop (Osprey states it will fit most 16″ laptops too) and a large internal slip pocket that can be used to store flatter items like A4 documents or smaller tech like a tablet. Additionally, there’s a discreet zippered pocket concealed within the storage pocket for the backpack straps. This pocket is easy enough to access whether the bag is in backpack or shoulder bag mode but offers a more discreet option for storing valuables.

In my mind, the Briefpack’s organization is almost perfection for my personal needs and preferences. However, one thing I would have liked was dedicated quick-access storage for a water bottle. You can theoretically slip one in the front admin pocket but I’d much prefer some sort of external option that kept the bottle within easy reach and separate from other items. There’s space on the right-hand side (if wearing the bag on-body in pack mode) that could work for a simple mesh pocket or the like that could stay unobtrusively tight to the body of the bag when not in use but be ready to use if required. I appreciate not everyone is a fan of external water bottle pockets and this is a personal nitpick, but if this is something you like in a bag, just be aware you’ll need to store your bottle elsewhere in the bag.

As touched on above, the Aoede Crossbody Bag provides a main compartment along with front and rear pockets. Inside the main compartment are two slip mesh pockets and a key clip. There’s also padding in the main compartment, making it useful for small tech items like a small tablet or e-reader. The front pocket seals with two magnets (one on either end of the flap), making this useful for quickly storing or accessing frequently used items. If you want more discreet, secure storage, the zippered back pocket has you covered. Both the front and rear pockets run the length of the bag and will easily hold items like a passport, wallet, or phone.

As mentioned previously, this bag isn’t large so you have to be somewhat strategic with your packing if you want to carry bulkier items. If you place any bulky items in the main compartment, this will eat into the volume of the front and rear pockets, potentially making them unusable. I wouldn’t say this is a flaw but rather forces you to use the bag as intended. It’s not designed to haul the kitchen sink but rather those frequently needed EDC or travel items you want secure but within easy reach. If you’re looking for a sleek, lightweight, and compact bag for essentials, it’s great. If you regularly carry bulky items, you’ll want something bigger as you’ll end up negating access to the bag’s inbuilt organization.

Comfort

One of the key features of the Aoede Briefpack is the multiple carry options. The bag can be carried as a backpack courtesy of stowable backpack straps, as a shoulder bag by using the removable shoulder strap, and in briefcase mode using the side grab handle. Additionally, there’s also a handy top grab handle and a luggage pass-through sleeve on the back panel. The grab handles are well padded and feel nice in hand.

The padded back panel uses Osprey’s AirScape™ design with ridged foam and suspended mesh for comfort and ventilation. I tested the pack during cooler autumn months so I can’t comment on how it would perform in very hot or humid conditions. However, during my testing I found the pack to be very comfortable. The stowable backpack straps clip in easily at the base of the bag and are easy to adjust with the webbing (though there’s no webbing management for loose, dangling excess webbing). I found the back panel surprisingly comfortable given the bag’s jack-of-all-trades approach to portability. There are no load lifters but I never missed them and don’t think a bag of this size requires them.

Alternating between backpack and shoulder bag mode is straightforward. Simply store the backpack straps and clip on the included shoulder strap (or leave the strap off for briefcase mode). The shoulder strap has an adjustable shoulder pad for carry comfort. While the backpack mode is (unsurprisingly) more comfortable than shoulder bag mode, the padded back panel provides cushioning when the shoulder bag is leaning against your hip. Additionally, the side grab handle is well positioned for easily maneuvering the bag in shoulder bag mode. I found the backpack strap storage pocket a useful spot for storing the shoulder strap when not in use, keeping it secure and out of the way but easily accessible if needed.

The Aoede Crossbody Bag includes a simple, adjustable webbing strap. There’s no padding on the strap but you shouldn’t need it for a bag of this size. The webbing itself feels soft and flexible and the bag is lightweight. You can wear it crossbody or over one shoulder. The strap itself isn’t removable but you could theoretically store most of it inside the rear zippered pocket and use the bag as a pouch inside a larger bag if you wanted to.

Weatherability

These bags are not waterproof but they are water-resistant, which should be more than sufficient for most users’ needs the majority of the time. The DWR finish will protect your gear from snow and light rain, so you should be fine if caught in an unexpected shower during a commute or trip. However, I like to push things a little in the weatherability testing department so I left both bags outside in heavy rain for an hour. While the rain did eventually soak into the exterior fabric, I’m pleased to report it held up fairly well so the interior contents of your bag should be fine in the event you have to deal with inclement weather.

I did notice the rain had soaked through the zippers but after a solid hour of drenching this wasn’t surprising. You’re not getting the likes of YKK AquaGuard zippers here so eventually rain will get through. But the chances of your bags being exposed to a solid hour of heavy rain with no source of shelter are probably not that high. And even if they are, your gear won’t be drenched afterwards. In summary, if you’re planning to venture out in monsoon conditions for an extended period of time then consider a raincover or store your gear internally in a plastic bag. Otherwise, you’ll be good to go for most urban settings and intended use cases.

Verdict

Both the Aoede Briefpack and Aoede Crossbody Bag are multifunctional and well-made carry options for a variety of EDC and travel needs. The organization is pretty much spot on for their intended uses without feeling cluttered. Additionally, the understated aesthetics lend themselves to both work and play. These aren’t fashion-forward or head-turning bags but equally they are fairly timeless in their own way. Kind of like a go-to jacket or your favorite pair of slippers – and I mean that in the best possible way. Easy to use, comfortable, and versatile, you’ll likely keep these pieces in your regular carry rotation for years to come, reaching for them regardless of current trends.

Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention the price. At US$150 for the Aoede Briefpack and US$40 for the Aoede Crossbody, I think both bags offer very good value for money. In the realm of carry where bags can often cost several hundred dollars, Osprey’s Aoede series offers a more affordable yet still dependable and practical alternative that will serve you well for years to come.